Let’s get things straight before we begin: working remotely is not for everybody. If you’ve read in all the trials and studies that it is, then you haven’t read them all! For one, not everyone can tolerate being at home focusing on work ALONE. Aside from the feeling of isolation, the anxiety and frustration start to creep in once you don’t know something and you don’t have somebody to talk to face to face.

However, for others, a remote occupation is the best thing that ever happened to them. Take me, for instance. I think that after remotely working for over a year, I can say that this is the perfect job. Nevertheless, I still share some of its disadvantages along with the advantages.

Ultimately, working remotely is not the future – it is the present. And since it is a technology that is continually growing, I would like to share some important information about it, so you and I will better understand what it is and why the whole world embraces the remote work culture.

Definition

Remote work refers to a full-time, project-based, or part-time occupation that an individual does outside of his office. This means that you can work from home, from a summer getaway spot, a friend’s place, or at a coffee shop across the street. You can perform your tasks from your desktop, laptop, or smartphone as long as there is Internet connectivity.

Working remotely, though, is not interchangeable with working from home. When you are working in a ‘remote status,’ you are not doing a home-based job. When you are a remote employee, a company hires you, and you have an office, but may be required to work outside of the workplace a few days or a week per month. Nowadays, many companies offer versatile schedules, which include their employees having to take a break from working in the office and just simply communicating with them through digitally and going to the office only to attend important meetings.

Source: pixabay.com

The Pros

You don’t need to wake up so early just to prepare for the office look. If you’re me (I am a remote worker), I wake up early and start work early – in my pajamas. That’s because I don’t want to waste much time and I want my tasks to be done on time, if not before the required time.

You still have a lot of energy after work. You’ll have to agree with me on this, right? There’s pretty much extra work to be done in your post compared to working at home or anywhere not in the office. There’s not too much pressure, and the stress level is not so high because there’s no one to compare yourself too.

You’re not affected by the weather. Upon waking up in the morning, you notice that it’s gloomy and the newscaster announces that there’s a big storm coming. All forms of public transport are delayed. Can you still work? Of course, you can! You can work productively without the trouble of going to the office plus you get to snack whenever you feel hungry. Match it with hot tea to melt those frozen fingers.

You can modify your workspace so that it satisfies your work and personal needs. Your workplace is what you want it to be. You can send information from that space to your boss or colleagues through email. If you feel cold, stay in your room and place a small table and chair for you to work on. There are many choices.

You’ll be so much happier. You have more free time when you’re remotely working for that month or year. You’d get to spend more time on the kids and get to know who they are. Being freer also means more sleep and relaxation time.

The Cons

It’s a lonely state to be in. You may be considered an employee for a company, but you don’t get to see and mingle with your co-employees. Lunch break is a great time to catch up with long-time colleagues and friends, and you can’t have that here. You communicate with them through email or chat. Because of this, work communication often fails. The heads of companies have now suggested that remote workers visit the office once or twice a month to fix this issue.

Your lifestyle becomes closer to sedentary. If you think only of work and not use your extra time staying fit, you’ll probably get hypertensive before the sixth month! You now gain the few calories you used to lose when you walk to and from the office, walking the stairs instead of using the elevator, and toning those abs while sitting down.

Source: thelist.com

Technology is not perfect. When the connection bogs down or your system crashes. Sometimes, your desktop may need an update, and you don’t have immediate access to troubleshooting since your IT guy is in the office. Anticipate these problems ahead of time.

I hope you found this article interesting and that you have finally determined whether or not working remotely is the right move for you.